Dozing Off to Sleep and the Power of the Cross
The date was August 18, 2011, and I was tucked away on the fourth floor in a little room in Christ Church, Oxford, England. After successfully defending my dissertation, I sat down to write my forward to the work. Upon doing so, I was made to consider the relevance of August 18, if any, to my dissertation topic on poverty and the new evangelization in the writings of Saint John... Read More

Exorcising the Specter of Discouragement
Dear Father John, What are some ways to help me or others overcome discouragement or a feeling of loss when evangelizing efforts don’t bear fruit?
DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE of an apostle’s greatest enemies. It can sneak up on us. We need to understand it in order to be ready to resist it. A good place to do so is in chapter 24 of St. Luke’s Gospel, where we read the familiar... Read More

Dr. Joseph Hollcraft, Avila Professor, and Dan Burke (who also teaches at the Avila Institute!)
Editor’s Note: Dan Burke says that Dr. Joseph Hollcraft “reveals that the advance of the Kingdom of God must begin first within our own hearts and then extend to those around us. Without this inner work of conversion and union with God, our efforts will yield far less than we would desire.” Professor Hollcraft, who... Read More

You Have What It Takes to Evangelize
Dear Father John, Sometimes I get nervous, even scared, at the thought of evangelizing. Is this normal, and how can I overcome these feelings?
THE CHURCH’S DEEPEST identity is found in her mission to evangelize, to proclaim and foster the growth of Christ’s kingdom. And God calls every Christian, every member of the Church, no matter how apparently small or unqualified, to join in... Read More

You don’t have to look very far to hear about evangelization in Catholic circles. But what does it mean to us, now, here? And how does it impact our spiritual life?
Evangelization has always been a cornerstone of the mission of Christ and the Church He established. The need to renew this foundational aspect of the Church’s mission has been in the forefront since the Second Vatican Council.
In our Spring 2015 course in... Read More

Editor’s note: Today, we introduce you, our readers, to Dr. Peter Howard, a professor with the Avila Institute and an expert on Mariology and Venerable Fulton Sheen. Please welcome him warmly!
It is often the case that, after the Easter season, there is a spiritual let-down as we sigh and return to “Ordinary Time”. However, the great line up of major feast days immediately following Pentecost are in no way “ordinary”.... Read More

“Business is business,” as the saying goes. It sometimes means to check Jesus at the door. Outside of religious organizations, the chain of command does not usually recognize God as the real CEO.
What’s God got to do with business? After all, not everyone even believes in him. So, why should God have a place in the workday? A big reason is because the devil never calls in sick for work. He is there every day. He is present... Read More

Life, As I Find It
Inasmuch as my life is still consumed with projects related to C.S. Lewis, I’ve been thinking about a little-known aspect of his life: the penalty he paid for being an outspoken Christian.
In the 1940’s, while Lewis became a best-selling author, lecturer and broadcaster, his co-workers at Oxford University were not pleased. For them, Lewis had broken an unwritten code by talking publicly about his faith.... Read More

…a reader asks: Dear Father John, With the social media we have today (Facebook, etc.), why do I feel hesitant to share God’s messages such as scripture, prayers, testimonies, etc. due to a concern of “negative ramifications.” Although there are few times I am moved by the Spirit to share without a concern, I am mainly too shy to share; when I do share I can’t help feeling my efforts were done in vain as if expecting... Read More

Listen in as Melissa shares some of her own personal prayer journey and a few of the difficulties she has encountered along the way. The post A Personal Prayer Journey – DI Radio Show and Podcast appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

Listen in this week as Dan and Melissa discuss the importance of prayer with the saints as well as examine the meaning behind Jesus' words about a rich man entering heaven. The post Prayer with the Saints – DI Radio Show and Podcast appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

This week, listen in as Dan and Melissa share their own personal stories of difficulties and progress in prayer. The post Personal Stories of Difficulties and Progress in Prayer appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.